Tokyo Olympics: PM Modi interacts with Indian contingent, wishes them success

PM Modi encouraged athletes and asked them not to get bogged down by pressure.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday interacted with Olympic-bound players via video conferencing and wished them success ahead of Tokyo Games, slated to be held on July 23.

The PMO had earlier informed about the PM's interaction with the athletes ahead of the Tokyo Games to motivate them ahead of their participation.

During the conference call he asked Badminton World Champion PV Sindhu about her preparations and her practice at Gachibowli Stadium.

"My practice at Gachibowli stadium is going well. The stadium has a very close resemblance with the ones that are used in the Olympics. I have been practicing since January. I am very thankful that the permission by the authorities was given so promptly," the shuttler said.

Her father PV Ramana also joined in and asked parents across the country to encourage their children to play a sport.

"Parents should encourage their children. They have to be dedicated. The government has been giving all the facilities. Children need to work hard and make their country proud," he said.

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Manipuri trailblazer and boxer Mary Kom, who will also enter Tokyo as India’s flag-bearer informed Modi that "she gets inspired by American boxer Muhammad Ali."

PM Modi also encouraged Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and asked him not to get bogged down by pressure.

When he inquired him about his injury, Chopra said, "Injury is a part of sport. It happens. We have a small career and we need to motivate ourselves. My year was wasted due to injury. And then Olympics was postponed due to Corona. I trained hard and continuing my focus on the Olympics."

Chopra has recently recuperated from ankle injury. He is currently in Sweden preparing for the Olympics.

Star sprinter Dutee Chand, who in an interview with Etv Bharat had said that she will try to clock 11.10 seconds in Tokyo, asked women to be "courageous" even as she said she will try do perform well in the Olympics.

"I am going to my second Olympics. I want all women to do well in this country. I will definitely try to do well in the Olympics," Chand said.

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"I get nervous, but I try to do well. I have been courageous even in my personal life. I will try my best," she added.

Dutee had qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in both 100m and 200m races via the World Rankings quota.

When PM Modi asked Ashish Kumar started playing boxing, Kumar said, "My father wanted me play boxing. My brother too has played at a good level. I was also expected to emulate. That's how it all started."

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PM Modi had recently reviewed the preparations for the facilitation of the Indian contingent at Tokyo 2020. He had also discussed the journeys of some of the athletes on his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio broadcast, besides urging the country to come forward and support them, the PMO stated.

India will be sending a 228-strong contingent to the Tokyo Olympics, including 119 athletes.